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Hi all, I'm hoping some of you can suggest a quick, but cute signature quilt pattern. Our youth pastor is getting married. I thought it would be a cute gift from the church. But, of course I've put it off and he gets married the end of next month. So I need something easy. Thanks

One of my favorite simple blocks is the friendship star. http://www.quilterscache.com/F...ndshipStarBlock.html You could use the center square for signatures.

Here's a nice 6" block that also works well. http://www.quilterscache.com/S/SignatureBlock.html

This is the simpliest therefore the one I always use.

http://www.quilterscache.com/R/RailFenceBlock.html

Just use 1/4 of the block to make a 6" finished square.
It's a great scrap user-upper. Use white or a light color for the center strip.

this is a different option that I made for one of our chu rch members. I used a wood grain fabric and had the members sign it, then just made the quilt itself.

Great options shown so far, love that quilt, quilting wifey! Just want to add that you might want a solid for the part that will be signed. I put together some pink and white string blocks that were made in a swap for my pastor's wife that was battling breast cancer and the center strips were white on white prints. Some were difficult to write on with the fabric pens.

Good luck on your project!

This is a pretty simple block. Use 6 1/2" white squares and put 4" squares on opposite corners. Sew diagonally through the 4" squares and trim. The blocks can be arranged in any pattern that you like. I agree that you should use a solid white fabric. Pens do not write well on white on white fabric. Here's an example of one I made for my granddaughter's wedding.

I've used a variation of Teddylady's design, too. I paper pieced mine for real fast construction (no need to precisely cut corner fabrics first). But then I like PP & can draft & print on EQ to get a bunch of foundation patterns ready in no time.

I second (third?) the solid color fabric advice for the signing area. White-on-white can be trouble, and any pens used may not be permanent on the painted/printed part of that type of fabric when washed.

One more tip, for anyone who may be reading or thinking about doing something like this someday, too: If you distribute fabric to sign in advance, or make blank squares and have a signing event in advance, use some freezer paper to make "frames" on the fabric. Have each person sign within that frame. Otherwise, you can easily get signatures or messages that are too big to use. You can cut frames from the freezer paper, iron them onto the squares, and preserve your 1/4" seam allowances all around that way. I tried getting signed squares without doing that once, & never again!

I made one for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary using the second on pvillelou has a link to. I made all the blocks and ironed freezer paper to the back of the white strip so they would be easier to sign.

OH YES! If people are signing a white block, frame it somehow. I took a water erasable marking pen and drew 1/2" margins around the blocks.

even a rail fence block would do.

Wow, so many choices. Thanks for all the pictures, they are gorgous. And, thanks for the many links. I need to make a decission quick and get my rear in gear this weekend. No more procrastination! I'll spend more time later tonight looking thru everything. You all are amazing!!!

I just finished 2 signature "quilts" last month. One I collected all the siggies and used that as the center of an 8 pointed star RW&B. Used a white muslin for that. The other one was a 30-inch block with creamy muslin for backgrounds. We collected the signatures at the party. I used a pigma pen for everything. And heat-set it after a 24 hour wait.

I LOVE your cross-quilt, q-wifey! Was this a purchased pattern or your draft? It would make a great church sale donation. I hope my - lets my post through....

Another question, I was thinking of using a thin black sharpe for writing. Will that work or do I need to invest in fabric pens? I definately will take everyones advice and use a solid color for the signature fabric.

You need fabric pens. The sharpies can run and shadow on the fabric.

Fabric pens, and test on a scrap of your signing fabric first to see if the pen marks bleed, if they need to be heat set, how well they hold up under running water, and if they disappear with detergent. With a project like this, it really pays to test in advance to avoid trouble later. (A cautious quilter won't always be the one taking care of the finished quilt...) JoAnn's has fabric pens in both the quilt supplies section and the t-shirt decorating section, near the dyes & fabric paints.

Also, when I take pens & fabric to an event, I take a big scrap of plain fabric with "Practice Here!" or similar written on the top. Lots of people want to make a test mark first to see how the pens write, before they sign the quilt or square.

Oops, forgot to mention that black Sharpie can really get strange with age. A funny yellow-green halo can appear around the marks. I've had it happen many times on white paper or labels. I think somewhere on the Sharpie website it mentions this? Seems I've read it, but I had it happen before I ever read a caution about it.

Glad I asked about the pens - I won't be using my Sharpie. Also, I love the idea of taking "test here" fabric. I will definately do that. I'm leaning toward the rail fence as I think that would be the quickest to work up. But, I also really like the friendship star and the 6" signature block. It's so hard to choose. Thanks to all of you for your insight and suggestions.

Take a piece of the plain fabric, iron freezer paper or thin fusible interfacing to the back, cut the edges with pinking shears, label it as the test place, and you're good to go.

One time I actually used the test piece on the back of the finished quilt because it was cute the way it was doodled & had some names on it.

I once did a t-shirt quilt for our school PE coach who was retiring. I took the muslin backing to the retirement party and had everyone sign it. Then we tied the quilt, bound it and had it ready for the last day of school a week later! Whew, it was close.

So, perhaps you could do something similar with the backing and do a top with another pattern. That cross quilt is gorgeous.

Micron Pigma pens, size .05 are what i used mostly. I did get some called jelly roll pens. as long as they are permanent, won't wash out and archival safe. i always heat set siggys too. even the ones I got. just to be on the safe side. Have fun!

Fabriks,

Thanks for the enjoyment. Yes, I created (build as you go) that quilt. The ground below the cr0ss is done with a layering process of the two fabrics overlapped (right sides up on each) and cutting through the overlap area with a rolling curvy line. Pick up the fabrics and toss the skinny sliver of each fabric, flip the upper fabric over the bottom fabric and sew the seam as you shape the curves to each other. Flip open and press. It really works well.

Thanks all. I do love the cross quilt. I think I will add it to my "someday" projects. You all have been such a great help and saved me hours of time (and probably a lot of head aches). All of the quilts you've shared are beautiful. I love the idea of adding a picture to the top. I think I'm going to tie it - once I get the top and bottem sandwiched together I will take it to church and ask everyone to tie a knot and say a prayer (sort of like a prayer shawl). I will post a picture when done. Thanks again to each of you!